Hair waving apparatus and method



April 26, 1932. R. M. KEELE 1,855,553

HAIR WAVING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed oct. 25, 195o 2 sheets-'sheet 1 .Ill

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' INVENTOR. ,6W/H /7 K554i A TTORNEYS.

April 26, 1932. v R. M. KEELE 1,855,553

HAIR WAVING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. in PH /7 Kiga A TTORN E YS.

' upon a Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH M. KEELE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO DUART' MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA HAIR WAVING APPARATUS AND METHOD Application filed October 25, 1930. Serial No. 491,172.

Y This invention relates generally to apparahas been set forth in detail in conjunction tus and'methods for waving hair, and has particular .application to such apparatuses and methods which utilize application of heat for effecting a permanent set to the wave.

At the present time there are two general types of hair waving appliances in general usage. In one type a strand of hair is wrapped spirally about a spindle, beginning at the base of the strand. Heat is then applied while the spindle extends outwardly from the head. Apparatus of this character is somewhat difficult to manipulate, and the wave imparted to the hair is not always as natural as is desired. In another type of apparatus, commonly referred to as the croquinole type, a strand of hair is wound spindle, beginning at the tip of the strand and winding toward the l head. After the strand has been wrapped upon the spindle, this spindle is locked .to .a protector in such a manner as to maintain the convolutions of the hair in tensioned condition. Heat is then applied, either by a device whichfits over the wound spindle, or by a heating element which is .inserted into the interior of the spindle.

While it is generally considered that croquinole waving apparatus will impart a more natural wave to the hair than the type previously described, I have found that it is difficult to secure uniform waving effect throughout the length of the strand due to iin-uniform heating of the diierent convolutions of the hair and due to the difficulty in securing uniform tension. Furthermore it is impossible with such apparatus to wave only a portion of the hair, as is frequently desirable.

It is an object of the present invention to devise a new type of hair waving apparatus and method which will obviate disadvantages in prior apparatuses such as described above.

It is a furtherv object of the invention to devise hair waving apparatus and method which can be applied to any desired portion of the hair strand.

Further objects of the invention will appear from vthe following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure f1 is a side elevational view, illustrating an apparatus incorporating the present invention. i

Fig. 2 is a. cross sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1. y

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail illustrating electrical means for seating one of the rollers of my apparatus.

Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner of operating my apparatus and the method of my invention.

The preferred form of my apparatus can be outlined briefiy as comprising a suitable form, such as a roller. over which a strand of hair can be looped. Means is provided in conjunction with the roller whereby the looped portion of the strand is maintained in tensioned condition, while heat is supplied to the same. After a permanent or semi-permanent wave has been applied to the portion of the strand being treated, the roller can be progressed to an adjacent successive portion of the strand for treatment in a similar manner. Upon progressing the roller to different portions of the strand, the strand is always maintained in tensioned condition, whereby retensioning of the looped portion is obviated. One distinguishing characteristic of the present method which is apparent from this brief outline, and which will be made clearer in the following detailed description, isthat single loops of a strand of hair are treated separately, thereby making possible effective and uniform distribution of heat to the hair being treated, and treatment of only certain portions of the hair without treating other portions which may be adequately waved.

The embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive consists of a substantially U-shaped frame 10, having Cil spaced depending portions 11. Handle 12, which can also be U-shaped, is secured to the upper end of frame 10. Journaled to the lower ends of portions 11 there is a hair engaging form 13 which can be in the form of a cylindrical roller as shown. To provide a convenient source of heat, roller 13 can be formed hollow as shown in Fig. 4, to accommodate :1n-elongated electrical heating element 14. One end ofl element 14 is carried by a terminal block 16 which is mounted upon one of the depending portions 11. Flexible electrical conductors 17 from block 16 can lead upwardly along one side of the frame 10 to the upper portion of handle 12, from which they can extend to a suitable source of current supply. When a number of the appliances are being employed in a waving operation, it is desirable to have the electrical conductors depending from counterbalanced or spring reels, whereby the vertical position of each appliance can be independently adjusted.

In addition to roller 13 there is another roller 21, which is preferably of smaller diameter than roller 13. Roller 21 is journaled upon the lower end of a relatively rigid member 22,

' and this member in turn is pivotally connected to frame 10 in such a. manner as to swing about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of roller 13. As representative of a suitable `pivotal connection, frame 10 is shown provided with struckup lugs 23 thru which a pivot pin. 24 extends. Member 22 has integral lugs 26 which are ournaled upon pin 24. When roller 21 is swung down into a position adjacent one side of roller 13 as shown on Fig. 2, the axes of the two rollers are4 substa-ntially parallel and a strand of hair can be gripped between the same.

In addition to roller 21 there is provided a comb 27, which is mounted upon the lower end of a relatively rigid member 28 substantially the same as member 23. Member 28 is likewise pivotally connected to pin 24, whereby it can be swung outwardly in the arc of a circle, or can be swung inwardly to a position adjacent one side of roller 13, as shown in Fig. 2. Suitable means such as acoiled spring 28 surrounding pin 24, serves to normally bias or urge members 23 and 27 inwardly toward roller 13. In other words roller 21 is normally urged toward one side of roller 13, and the comb 27 is normally urged toward the other side of roller 13. In orderto enable roller 21 and comb 26 toY be either simultaneously or separately retracted from roller 13, suitable finger engaging portions 29 and 31 are formed integral with members 22 and 28. These portions 29 and 31 extend in proximity with the frame handle 12. Therefore assuming both portions 29 and 31 are forced inwardly tcward handle 12, both roller 21 and comb 27 will be retracted from roller V13. If it is desired to retractV the roller 21 independently of comb 27, then portion 29 can be rforced inwardly toward handle 12, and likewise comb 27 can be retracted independently of roller 21 by forcing portion 31 toward handle 12. For a purpose which will be presently explained, another finger engaging portion 32 is rigidly mounted upon frame 10, and this portion extends outwardly at one side of the frame in proximity with portion 29.

Means is also provided for turning rollers 13 and 21 in opposite directions, when they are in proximity as shown in Fig. 2. Thus referring to Fig. 3, I have shown a gear 34 mounted upon roller 13 at one side of frame 10, and this gear is adapted to engage a pinion 36 mounted upon the corresponding end of roller 21. Gear 34 also engages another gear 37 which is journaled to frame 10, and which carries a finger engaging wheel 38. Assuming that roller 21 is in its normal position adjacent one side of roller 13, as shown in Fig. 2, then gear 34 is in engagement with pinion 36, and rotation of wheel 38 serves to rotate rollers 13 and 21 in opposite directions. A pointer or other suitable mark 39 can be placed on wheel 38 to be used as a `f point of reference with respect to a mark 41 upon frame 10. By referring to these markings an operator can accurately rotate roller 13 one revolution, or any other number of revolutions desired.

The apparatus described above is preferably utilized in conjunction with some suitable orm of protector. The conventional protector illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of two clamping bars 43 which are provided Y' with a suitable resilient covering such as vulcanized rubber, and which are hinged together so that two corresponding ends can be swung apart. These bars can be clamped Gil upon a strand o hair such as indicated at 44, in close proximity with the scalp and can be retained in such clamped position by suitable locking means 46.

The method of my invention can bestV be understood by describing the preferred manl ner of operating the above apparatus. A suit-able strand of hair is segregated and a protector, such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is then clamped upon the strand in close proximity to the head. The operator grasps portions 29 and 31 and forces these portions inwardly to retract roller 21 and comb 27 from the roller 13. While roller 21 and comb 27 are retracted the strand of hair is looped over roller 13, as shown in Fig. 5. Finger hold portion 29 is no w released to permit roller 21 to move in. a position in close prox- Vimity to roller 13, as shown in Fig. 6, thus clamping the strand of hair between the rollers. Upon releasing finger holdportion 29 the operator can still maintain a grip between handle 12 and finger hold portion 31, to retain comb 27 in retracted osition. The portionof the strand looped albout roller 13 is tensioned and pressure upon finger hold portion 31 is released to permit comb 27 to move inwardly and engage the hair as shown in Fig. 7. In this position roller 21 and comb 27, cooperating with roller 13, maintains the looped portion of the strand in tensioned condition. In this connection it should be noted that considerable friction should be provided to tend to prevent rotation of rollers 13 and 21. Heat is now applied to the looped portion of the strand as by supplying current to the heating element 14. After the heat has served its purpose of imparting a permanent or semi-permanent wave to the looped portion of the strand, it is possible to progress roller 13 to an adjacent portion of the strand, for similar treatment. This is accomplished as indicated in Fig. 8. Thus the operator grasps and applies pressure to linger hold portions 29 and 32, in order to manually supplement the spring pressure tending to urge rollers 13 and 21 together. Wheel 38 is now rotated to turn roller 13 a given angular mount, say one revolution. Upon rotation of roller 13, roller 21 -is likewise rotated, by virtue of engagement of gear 34 with pinion 3G. An adjacent portion of the strand is thus looped upon roller 13, and in the new position of this roller the looped strand is under considerable tension, due to the fact that tension upon the strand is maintained by the comb 27. The heating operation can then be repeated to impart a permanent or semi-permanent wave to this adjacent portion of the strand. Liliewise any number of successive waving operations can be performed upon the strand, to impart a wave throughout the length of the strand, or for any part thereof. It is of course evident that in carrying out this method the hair being waved can be moistened with suitable solution, to prevent excessive dryness, or to enhance the waving eifect.

It is evident that since during a given heating operation only a single loop of the hair strand is about the roller 13, penetration of heat into the hair will be substantially uniform, and all parts of the hair being heated will be elevated to a proper temperature to vimpart the desired wave. Excessive heating which is frequently detrimental to the hair is avoided. The fact thatthe treatment can be limited to only certain portions of the hair strands is also a desirable characteristic, since it avoids excessive and detrimental treatment of portions of the hair which still retain a wave from previous treatments. No unpleasant sensations are experienced by the party whose hair is being waved, due to the fact that tension is at no time placed directly upon the scalp, and due to the fact that the scalp is at all times protected from heat applied to the looped portions of the strand. It is of course evident that a large number of strands can be treated at one time by the operator, and the individual treating devices can be progressed according to the requirements of each particular strand.

I claim:

1. In a hair waving apparatus, a roller over which a loop intermediate the ends of a hair strand can be placed, means for retaining said loop under tension, means for heating said roller, and means for progressing said roller along said strand to eifect the waving of successive portions thereof.

2. In a hair waving apparatus, a pair of rollers adapted to receive a strand of hair between the same, means for normally urging said rollers together, a clamp in the form of a comb adapted to engage the strand after the strand is looped about one of the rollers, and means for heating the looped portion of the strand.

3. In a. hair waving apparatus, a pair of rollers adapted to receive strand of hair between the same, means for normally urging said rollers together, a clamp in the form of a comb adapted to engage the strand after the strand is looped about one of the rollers,

means for heating the looped portion of thev strand, and means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions.

4. In a hair waving apparatus, a pair of rollers adapted to receive a strand of hair between the same, means for normally urging said rollers together, clamping means adapted to engage the strand after the strand is looped over one of the rollers, means for normally urging said last means towards the rollers, means for turning the rollers in opposite directions, and means for supplementing the force tending to urge said rollers together while they are being turned.

5. In a hair waving apparatus, a pair of rollers adapted to receive a strand of hair between the same, means for normally urging said rollers together, a clamp in the form of a comb adapted to engage the strand after the strand is looped over one of the rollers,l means for normally urging said comb towards the rollers, means for turning the rollers in opposite directions, and means for supplementing the force tending to urge said rollers together while they are being turned.

6. In a hair waving apparatus, a pair of rollers adapted to receive a strand of hair between the same, means for normally urging said rollers together, a clamp in the form of a comb adapted to engage the strand after, the strand is once looped over one of the rollers, means for normally urging said comb towards said rollers, means for turning the rollers in opposite directions, means for retracting the comb from the rollers, means for retracting the rollers from each other, and means for supplementing the force tending to urge said rollers together while they are being turned.

7. In a hair waving apparatus, a frame, having a roller journaled to the same, a member pivotally connected to said frame, another roller journaled to said member along an aXis substantially parallel to the first roller, means for normally urging said rollers together, another member pivotally connected to the frame, a comb mounted on said other member and arranged substantially parallel to the first roller, and means for normally urging said comb and said first roller together.

8. In a hair Waving apparatus, a frame, a mandrel journaled to the frame for axial ro tation, and means for retaining an intermediate segmental portion of a flattened hair strand looped over the mandrel, said means including a pair of elements adapted to be urged against opposite sides of the mandrel. 9. In hair Waving apparatus, a mandrel over which a strand ofl hair can be looped,

with both ends of the strand extending away from the sides of the mandrel, means for gripping the strand adjacent the ends of said looped portion and for tensioning said portion, and means for turning said mandrel to cause the same to engage another looped portion of the strand.

10. In hair Waving apparatus, a rotatable mandrel, a fra-me adapted to rotatably support said mandrel, and a comb secured to said frame and adapted to be forced against said mandrel. 11. In hair Waving apparatus, a rotatable mandrel, a frame adapted to rotatably support said mandrel, and a comb pivotally secured to said frame, and means for urging the comb in a direction towards said mandrel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

RALPH M. KEELE. 

